GVN Interview With ‘Amari And The Despicable Wonders’ Author B.B. Alston

New York Times bestselling author B.B. Alston stops by Geek Vibes Nation to discuss the latest installment of his Supernatural Investigations series, his writing process, and the upcoming film.

GVN: Hello, Mr. Alston! Thank you for stopping by Geek Vibes Nation to discuss your latest novel, Amari and The Despicable Wonders! Could you start by telling our GVN audience about yourself and your work? 

Hi! My name is B.B. Alston, and I’m author of the Supernatural Investigations series which includes Amari and the Night Brothers, Amari and the Great Game, and now, the Amari and the Despicable Wonders. I’ve lived in many states but spent most of my life in South Carolina, where I still reside.

GVN: What can readers expect from the third installment of the Supernatural Investigations series? 

Amari and the Despicable Wonders picks up right where Amari and the Great Game left off. The situation is dire, as the supernatural world is now at war. And unfortunately, Amari and her friends are caught in the middle. Fans can expect a visit to an unexplored department at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, among even more fantastical locations around the globe. There will be loads fun and humor mixed in with the danger, all while barreling toward an exciting and action-packed conclusion! 

GVN: Three books into the series, do the characters still surprise you and evolve in ways you don’t anticipate? 

Absolutely! No matter how much you plan out a series beforehand, sometimes the characters have a mind of their own. The way you first envisioned them, versus who they are as you write the book can vary significantly. But it’s honestly one of my favorites parts about writing, because these characters become real people in your head.

GVN: One of my favorite things about the series is Amari’s supporting cast. What do you think is the key to creating great supporting characters? 

Thanks so much! The biggest key to great supporting characters is to have them feel as fleshed out and real as the main character. One way to do this is to give them their own distinct personalities. For instance, Elsie is optimistic, but also tends to be more timid. Whereas Lara can be very no-nonsense but also incredibly brave. Having certain traits be specific to each character means the reader has a better chance of finding someone that resonates with them. That also means that supporting characters will have their own strengths and weaknesses that show up on the page.

It’s also important that supporting characters have their own goals. Readers feel a sense of connection and ownership for these characters and enjoy rooting for them. It’s satisfying to see characters evolve and grow over the course of a book and/or series. 

GVN: What was your favorite part of writing this installment? Do you have a favorite character? 

My favorite part about this installment is getting to write about places outside the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. There are places only teased about in previous books that Amari and her friends visit in Amari and the Despicable Wonders. I can’t wait for readers to get to experience those scenes!

I have a brand new character in this book that was a blast to write. A certain ghost with a penchant for mischief but also heroics!

GVN: What are some of the highs and lows of writing a long-running series? Can you tell us how many more installments of the series we can expect? 

The hardest part about long running series is probably keeping track of the details! With so many characters and places and events, you’ve gotta make sure everything lines up perfectly so that it all makes sense. But the most gratifying thing about a series is paying off things you’ve set up in previous books. Seeing a character achieve something they’ve been working across multiple books is satisfying as a writer, and hopefully as a reader as well.

GNV: What is one thing you’ve learned while writing this series that you will take into your next project? 

Definitely the importance of the outline. I love to work without a plan sometimes—it gives you the freedom to go in whatever direction you want. But I’ve learned that even a loose outline helps keep the writing on track and gives a necessary overall sense of direction to the story.

GVN: Any advice for aspiring authors? 

Firstly, read a lot. You need to always be reading, because that ultimately makes you a better writer. Understanding why you like one book and not another, or why something worked or didn’t work helps you build the storytelling skills necessary to complete your own work. 

The second bit of advice is to not give up. Being a creative is hard because it’s so subjective and so many people want to do the same thing. That means you’re going to be told “no” a lot. But you’ve got to stick with it if you want to make a career out of being a writer. It’s the best job in the world.

GVN: Can you tell us what you are working on next? Can we expect any spin-offs in the future? 

Right now I’m working on the fourth book in the Supernatural Investigations series. If you’re new to the series, it’s the perfect time to jump in! The story arc of the first two books ends here in Amari and the Despicable Wonders, with book 4 starting a fresh new arc (with a brand-new villain!) next year. 

I’d love to do a spinoff, and we’re specifically looking at doing a graphic novel in the near future.

GVN: Can you give us any updates about the movie Amari and the Night Brothers, which was announced in 2019? 

This is actually a big year in terms of the movie. As you mentioned, the book was optioned back in 2019 and although we’ve come close to getting a movie made, it hasn’t yet happened. That said, there are some super-talented folks hard at work on the script now, and we hope to be able to have a substantial update by the end of year.

GNV: Where can our readers connect with you online? 

Readers can find my website at bbalston.com, or email me at bb.alston@yahoo.com. In terms of social media, I can be found on both Twitter (X) and Instagram under the username @bb_alston

Amari and the Despicable Wonders is now on sale everywhere books are sold. 

Author Bio

B. B. Alston lives in Chapin, South Carolina. His debut novel, Amari and the Night Brothers, was a #1 Kids’ Indie Next pick and the winner of Barnes & Noble’s inaugural Children’s and YA Book Award as well as a New York Times and indie bestseller. When not writing, he can be found eating too many sweets and exploring country roads to see where they lead. Visit him online at bbalston.com.